Kazakhstan has launched a major humanitarian and medical mission to Afghanistan, sending nearly 319 tons of aid and a team of leading healthcare specialists to support communities in need.

A Kazakh delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin arrived in Kabul with humanitarian supplies and medical experts as part of a broader effort to strengthen cooperation and provide assistance to the Afghan people, The Caspian Post reports via Kazinform.

The humanitarian shipment weighs 318.8 tons and includes 300 tons of sugar, medicines and medical supplies, summer tents, bedding, and other essential goods. The aid package contains a wide range of medications, including antiviral, cardiovascular, gastroenterological, bronchodilator, and diabetes treatments.

Alongside the aid delivery, nine specialists from Kazakhstan’s top medical institutions have begun a week-long mission under the Days of Kazakh Medicine in Afghanistan initiative. The team includes pediatricians, surgeons, gastroenterologists, traumatologists, and other healthcare professionals who will provide consultations, medical assistance, and training sessions for Afghan doctors.

Zhumangarin said that the mission reflects Kazakhstan’s long-standing commitment to supporting Afghanistan and promoting regional stability.

“We consider Afghanistan one of our priority and strategically important partners in the South and Central Asian region. We are convinced that a stable and prosperous Afghanistan is an important prerequisite for peace and stability throughout the region. The latest shipment of humanitarian aid sent by our country is not merely an act of support, but also a demonstration of solidarity, respect, and responsibility. Today, nine leading specialists from Kazakhstan’s medical institutions have arrived with us - pediatricians, gastroenterologists, surgeons, traumatologists, and doctors from other specialties. They will provide necessary assistance to local residents and conduct master classes for Afghan professionals. For true doctors, there are no borders when it comes to saving people’s health and lives. In this way, we are continuing the medical mission that began last year,” said Zhumangarin.

Photo credit: primeminister.kz

Most of the cargo was transported by rail to the Hairatan logistics hub in Afghanistan’s Balkh Province, while part of the medical supplies arrived by air with the delegation. The delivery was coordinated by Kazakhstan’s international development agency KazAID together with several government ministries.

The mission comes as Afghanistan continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis. According to the United Nations, nearly 30 million people in the country require humanitarian assistance, while around 1.3 million children under the age of five are in need of treatment for malnutrition.

Kazakhstan remains the largest provider of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan among Central Asian nations. Over the past two decades, Astana has delivered food, medicines, clothing, tents, and other essential supplies, with assistance increasing steadily since 2021.

The latest initiative builds on Kazakhstan’s first humanitarian medical mission to Afghanistan in November 2025, when 13 Kazakh doctors performed 44 surgeries and treated more than 100 patients in just ten days.

Looking ahead, Kazakhstan hopes the newly established UN Regional Center for the Sustainable Development Goals in Almaty will serve as a key platform for coordinating international efforts to support Afghanistan’s long-term development, strengthen regional cooperation, and attract investment for sustainable growth.